Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.

That’s because, as the OED3 points out, the word didn’t exist until1952. And it’s really not altogether a legitimate word. “Dystopia” (“badplace”) is the opposite of “Eutopia” (“good place”), not “Utopia” (“noplace”). However, even More himself made the Utopia/Eutopia joke, so Iguess we have to give it a pass.

--John W. Kennedy"The blind rulers of LogresNourished the land on a fallacy of rational virtue."-- Charles Williams. "Taliessin through Logres: Prelude"

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.

Thats because, as the OED3 points out, the word didnt exist until1952. And its really not altogether a legitimate word. Dystopia (badplace) is the opposite of Eutopia (good place), not Utopia (noplace). However, even More himself made the Utopia/Eutopia joke, so Iguess we have to give it a pass.

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.

That’s because, as the OED3 points out, the word didn’t exist until1952. And it’s really not altogether a legitimate word. “Dystopia” (“badplace”) is the opposite of “Eutopia” (“good place”), not “Utopia” (“noplace”). However, even More himself made the Utopia/Eutopia joke, so Iguess we have to give it a pass.

My OED is copyrighted 1971.

That was after the first Supplement (1933) was included, but before thenext Supplement was published (1972-1986), so no surprise a 1952neologism was missing.

OED2 was the computerisation and further additions edition, released onpaper in 1989 and on CDrom in 1992.

OED3 is the current online version, and gets updates, additions andcorrections every three months.

Cheers - Jaimie

--I am always a bit unhappy when I spot a bit of text that made perfectsense in my brain but on passing through my fingers turned into a wordsalad suggesting that someone had jammed an ice pick into my head andstirred while I was typing. -- James Nicoll

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.

That’s because, as the OED3 points out, the word didn’t exist until1952. And it’s really not altogether a legitimate word. “Dystopia” (“badplace”) is the opposite of “Eutopia” (“good place”), not “Utopia” (“noplace”). However, even More himself made the Utopia/Eutopia joke, so Iguess we have to give it a pass.

My OED is copyrighted 1971.

That would be the first Compact Edition—a photographically reducedreproduction of the First Edition of 1933.

--John W. Kennedy"The blind rulers of LogresNourished the land on a fallacy of rational virtue."-- Charles Williams. "Taliessin through Logres: Prelude"

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.

That’s because, as the OED3 points out, the word didn’t exist until1952. And it’s really not altogether a legitimate word. “Dystopia” (“badplace”) is the opposite of “Eutopia” (“good place”), not “Utopia” (“noplace”). However, even More himself made the Utopia/Eutopia joke, so Iguess we have to give it a pass.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopia>credits John Stuart Mill in the British Parliamentin 1868, with a lot of references, including to OED.

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

OED ? Wait, I have to pay to use it?https://www.oed.com/

Sure, just like your customers pay for your process control software.

But the first two weeks are free ...

And the first hit of addictive drugs is free.

--Inquiring minds want to know while minds with a self-preservationinstinct are running screaming.

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

OED ? Wait, I have to pay to use it?https://www.oed.com/

One way or another. On paper it's 400 bucks in one volume or 1100 in24 volumes (same content, but the one volume has very very tinyprint).

And until some time in July it's 90 bucks a year for US subscribers.300 was too damned much but that's tempting.

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

OED ? Wait, I have to pay to use it?https://www.oed.com/

One way or another. On paper it's 400 bucks in one volume or 1100 in24 volumes (same content, but the one volume has very very tinyprint).

I have the photoreduced, 4-pages-to-a-page, two-volume version.I remember what it cost me, too: subscribing to Book-o/t-Month Club,which would've been less costly if I'd been more conscientiousabout saying "don't send me this month's selection."

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

OED ? Wait, I have to pay to use it?https://www.oed.com/

One way or another. On paper it's 400 bucks in one volume or 1100 in24 volumes (same content, but the one volume has very very tinyprint).

I have the photoreduced, 4-pages-to-a-page, two-volume version.I remember what it cost me, too: subscribing to Book-o/t-Month Club,which would've been less costly if I'd been more conscientiousabout saying "don't send me this month's selection."

I've got the next edition of that one--the one that comes in onevolume with the bubble magnifier, got it at a Borders liquidation forsomething like 100 bucks.

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Noteshttps://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then.https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

OED ? Wait, I have to pay to use it?https://www.oed.com/

One way or another. On paper it's 400 bucks in one volume or 1100 in24 volumes (same content, but the one volume has very very tinyprint).

I have the photoreduced, 4-pages-to-a-page, two-volume version.I remember what it cost me, too: subscribing to Book-o/t-Month Club,which would've been less costly if I'd been more conscientiousabout saying "don't send me this month's selection."

I got mine at Whiteley’s in Bayswater (then a department store), but Iuse the on-line version now.

Over on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself “Gharlane of Eddore”, who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

--John W. Kennedy"The blind rulers of LogresNourished the land on a fallacy of rational virtue."-- Charles Williams. "Taliessin through Logres: Prelude"

Post by John W KennedyOver on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself "Gharlane of Eddore", who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

Post by John W KennedyOver on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself "Gharlane of Eddore", who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

*sigh*I miss the old Eldritch Horror. He was always a kick tohave around.

Oh, I do too. We used to correspond outside the forums, and hemay have been an eldritch horror, but he was a sweetie-pie. Wenever met face-to-face.

Post by John W KennedyOver on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself "Gharlane of Eddore", who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

*sigh*I miss the old Eldritch Horror. He was always a kick tohave around.

Oh, I do too. We used to correspond outside the forums, and hemay have been an eldritch horror, but he was a sweetie-pie. Wenever met face-to-face.

I've met him, but didn't know it at the time. Once afterBayCon (or was it Westercon?), he recounted a conversationI was involved in in one of the room parties. I recalled theconversation, but I couldn't recall who I'd been talking to.

Post by John W KennedyOver on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself "Gharlane of Eddore", who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

*sigh*I miss the old Eldritch Horror. He was always a kick tohave around.

Oh, I do too. We used to correspond outside the forums, and hemay have been an eldritch horror, but he was a sweetie-pie. Wenever met face-to-face.

I've met him, but didn't know it at the time. Once afterBayCon (or was it Westercon?), he recounted a conversationI was involved in in one of the room parties. I recalled theconversation, but I couldn't recall who I'd been talking to.

I have only ever "net GoE online. Some of his fanac has beenpreserved.

Post by John W KennedyOver on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself "Gharlane of Eddore", who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

*sigh*I miss the old Eldritch Horror. He was always a kick tohave around.

Oh, I do too. We used to correspond outside the forums, and hemay have been an eldritch horror, but he was a sweetie-pie. Wenever met face-to-face.

I've met him, but didn't know it at the time. Once afterBayCon (or was it Westercon?), he recounted a conversationI was involved in in one of the room parties. I recalled theconversation, but I couldn't recall who I'd been talking to.

Your sense of perception was clearly not powerful enough to pierce hisdisguise.

Post by John W KennedyOver on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself "Gharlane of Eddore", who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

*sigh*I miss the old Eldritch Horror. He was always a kick tohave around.

Oh, I do too. We used to correspond outside the forums, and hemay have been an eldritch horror, but he was a sweetie-pie. Wenever met face-to-face.

I've met him, but didn't know it at the time. Once afterBayCon (or was it Westercon?), he recounted a conversationI was involved in in one of the room parties. I recalled theconversation, but I couldn't recall who I'd been talking to.

Your sense of perception was clearly not powerful enough to pierce hisdisguise.

I once pointed out that his "portrait" on his web page lookedsuspiciously similar to Simon Wright, The Living Brain from CaptainFuture, to which he replied that it was just down to him and Simonhaving the same tailor.

Post by John W KennedyOver on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself "Gharlane of Eddore", who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

*sigh*I miss the old Eldritch Horror. He was always a kick tohave around.

Oh, I do too. We used to correspond outside the forums, and hemay have been an eldritch horror, but he was a sweetie-pie. Wenever met face-to-face.

I've met him, but didn't know it at the time. Once afterBayCon (or was it Westercon?), he recounted a conversationI was involved in in one of the room parties. I recalled theconversation, but I couldn't recall who I'd been talking to.

Your sense of perception was clearly not powerful enough to pierce hisdisguise.

Post by John W KennedyOver on the Babylon 5 groups, there was in times of yore a poster whocalled himself “Gharlane of Eddore”, who often said that, if you couldpick a dictionary up with one hand, then, unless it was the CD-ROMversion of the OED, it was unfit for adult use.

When I spent more time writing, I kept a small, cheap ready-referencedictionary beside my keyboard. When I wondered whether I could use aword without defining it first, I looked it up, and if *that*dictionary had it, I assumed that my reader's dictionary had it.

Post by Lynn McGuirexkcd: Diploma Legal Notes https://www.xkcd.com/2157/"All graduates are entitled to delete one word of their choice from theOxford English Dictionary."Hmm. I wonder which word I would delete ? I am the class of 1982 sothis must be a new feature as I do not recall it then. https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2157:_Diploma_Legal_Notes

I got an old copy of the OED. The first word that I looked upwas dystopia. It was not in there.Sincerely,Gene Wirchenko

OED ? Wait, I have to pay to use it? https://www.oed.com/

It’s worth every penny. But if you really don’t want to, any respectableacademic library you can get into the Reference Room of should haveaccess. Or you can log on from home if you have any Britishpublic-library card.

--John W. Kennedy"The blind rulers of LogresNourished the land on a fallacy of rational virtue."-- Charles Williams. "Taliessin through Logres: Prelude"